Cars Coming Soon->Debuts at the Detroit Auto Show

As auto-show season befalls us once again, we should take a moment and relish the excitement of wondering what unexpected surprises lie beneath those thin veils of white sheeting.

Every once in a while a concept that’s totally jaw-dropping stops the entire auto industry in its tracks. Recent examples include (obviously) last year’s Porsche 918 Spyder, Jaguar X-C75 and, for the complete opposite reason, 2009’s Aston Martin Lagonda.

The North American International Auto Show begins Monday in Detroit, and while we can’t know for sure if any show-stopping debuts will be unveiled, we can at least try to poke our heads under the sheets and take a guess about what’s coming…

Porsche is generating the loudest buzz with its mysterious “something spectacular” that our spectacular jgoods covered yesterday. Consider our targets locked on that announcment, for sure.

Volkswagen’s long-awaited New Midsize Sedan (NMS) will finally show its face in Detroit, though I’m not expecting styling that’ll result in anything more than a casual shrug. While we don’t yet know what the model’s official name will be, the car should be longer, wider, and less expensive than the Passat it’ll replace. If the new Jetta is any indication, expect a car that looks like a 1993 Camry.

We know that Hyundai will debut its Veloster, a hot little economical sports car. The teaser image here shows a good-looking two-door coupe/hatchback, but with an extra third rear door. Pardon me, but what the hell? Was it involved in some kind of nuclear accident? That just seems like a lot of unnecessary engineering.

If you think gullwing doors are just for the SLS AMG and time machines, take a look at the Kia KV7 concept pictured on top. While obviously just a rendering, the real thing should be at the show. Don’t expect a production version, but maybe there are some styling cues for upcoming Kia models. Wood floors? You never know…